Chapter 16: Time to Catch Up
Posted by Marisa Veri on
When I sat down this morning to write a blog post, I hadn't realized exactly how long it had been since my last one. Months. It turns out it has been over 3 months since I wrote, with April's novel coronavirus disbelief still in tact, about the ways our world had changed in shutdown. Since then, it feels like the world and life in it is simultaneously ever changing and also staying very much the same.
You will undoubtedly have seen, in the news and social media, the Black Lives Matter movement combating racism the world over. To start I would like to say directly that I fully support the Black Lives Matter movement and am committed to doing the work to be anti-racist in both my business and personal life. While I think that many in our crafting community began to educate ourselves about racism in January 2019, at least in my case I will confess that I had not extended that awareness appropriately to identify the reach of white supremacy and privilege in my life and business. Seeing the uprising that is happening has made me take a closer look at how I have directly or indirectly been a part of the problem, and in what ways I can make a difference. It has always been our intention for our space on and offline to be safe and inclusive, and I have updated our About Us to clearly outline that, but in this moment I have learned that these intentions are where my work starts, but not where my work ends. If you follow us on social media, you will have seen some of this already, but I have begun sharing information on allyship, how to support social justice efforts, and other information supporting anti-racism throughout my stories. I will continue to amplify Black voices in support of a better future where equity is a reality. To that end, inspired by Shannon at Fringeish, I am in the process of constructing a page on our site dedicated to anti-racism resources as well and I will send a link to that when it is ready. I hope you will join us as we continue to develop our understanding of these issues and show our support.
You may recall that early on in the pandemic I began making and collecting mask extenders for distribution to front-line workers. Feeling useless as I watched our healthcare workers tirelessly battle this virus, it seemed like some small effort we could contribute to making a difference. Together we have been able to supply over 415 extenders to 4 long term care homes. I am currently preparing a batch for a retirement residence near and dear to me who cared for my grandmother in her final years. I am continuing to make and accept donations of extenders for distribution through front-line and essential workers. The homes have sent such warm messages of gratitude for the work our little community has done. For us, crocheting a quick two rounds or knitting a few rows may not feel like any great task but to the folks wearing masks for 8+ hours a day, these extenders are much appreciated relief for chafed and raw ear lobes, as you can tell from this message I received from one of the homes:
I do hope that you have all been weathering this storm of a year. Until next time stay hydrated, wear a mask, don’t be a bigot, practice your craft and stay safe.